In a couple of weeks I turn 37 and over the last few weeks I’ve started to think about things I would like to do over the next couple of years, a sort of bucket list if you like. I’ve been extremely lucky and had the opportunity to experience many things over the years but I thought it would be fun to compile a list of things I would like to achieve both independently and with my family over the next couple of years. This bucket list is a work in progress so as I think of things I will add to my list.
When I was younger I was a Brownie and progressed through the Guiding programme to being a Leader when I was 18 years old. Guiding opened so many doors for me in lots of different ways and was something I thoroughly enjoyed. When I went off to university I had to leave it behind and it was something I missed. But since having the boys they have all in turn joined the Scouting movement locally and is something I actively have encouraged with them. Two years ago I was asked if I would be interested in helping out with the Cubs and I became their group secretary. I also started helping out with Cub meetings when they needed an extra pair of hands. It made me realise how much I missed Guiding and when our local group became threatened with closure I decided to help out on a more permanent basis. I love my time with the young people, seeing them learn, have fun and develop through the Scouting programme. So the first item on my bucket list is to achieve my Scouting Warrant so I can continue helping young people and also develop my own skills along the way.
Over the Summer I finally managed to start teaching myself to Crochet, something I’ve wanted to do for a while now but hadn’t had the time. But over the summer I finally decided to sit down and make a start. So far I’ve made Rowan a Granny Square blanket and I’m currently working on a corner to corner blanket for Erin. So second on my bucket list is to spend more time learning to crochet. So far I’ve found the experience really relaxing which is great after a busy day. I would love to learn how to crochet more types of Granny Squares and master other techniques too.
I would love to travel more, both here in the UK and abroad. When I was younger we holidayed a lot in the UK, mainly camping which enabled us to explore different places. I would like to give my own children this opportunity and take them to both places I visited as a child and new places and countries. I would like to return to the Lake District and also one place I remember clearly from one childhood holiday is Yorvik in York, I must have been about 8 or 9 at the time and would love to go back. Then I would love to visit Disney World in Florida, somewhere I know the whole family would enjoy. As we all like exploring castles I think it would be interesting to go and discover other castles in other countries like Germany, Italy and France. So trips to these country would be great. I would also like to go and see the Northern Lights and enjoy a cruise. So travel features heavily on my bucket list.
Then there are a few things I would like to try, such as assailing, tank driving and I’ve this strange urge to drive a train! I think it’s because my great granddad used to work on the trains. So I’ve been doing some research for places that can enable me to do these things and I think the best way to go is via an experience day company like Into the Blue Experience Days who provide various experiences from theatre days to dining experiences and more. I know Dad of 3 would quite like to drive a tank too, so that’s one we could do together.
As baking is something I enjoy doing I would also like to try to develop new skills around this like cake decorating. So I like the idea of doing some evening classes. I also need to brush up on my Welsh so again I will be looking at some conversational Welsh classes I can attend. As my children are all educated through Welsh I need to be able to converse with them and although I have a GCSE in Welsh, it’s not something I use as a matter of course so a sort of refresher would be great help.
I would also like to develop my photography skills further too and would love to have a dslr to use and then learn how to use it to its full potential.
So as you can see my bucket list is starting to form, it’s mainly full of things I would like to do or skills I would like to develop. The great thing about a bucket list is that it can added too as I go along. What would be on your bucket list?